Inkjet recording device

Abstract

An inkjet recording device includes a recording head having a nozzle surface formed with a plurality of nozzle arrays and a wiping mechanism having a wiper for wiping the nozzle surface. The wiping mechanism moves the wiper relative to and in contact with the nozzle surface, in a direction inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the plurality of nozzles arrays.

1. An inkjet recording device comprising:
 a recording head having a nozzle surface formed with a plurality of nozzle arrays and configured to eject ink droplets from the plurality of nozzle arrays, the plurality of nozzle arrays including a first nozzle array and a second nozzle array adjacent to the first nozzle array; 
 a wiping mechanism having a wiper for wiping the nozzle surface; 
 a carriage on which the recording head is mounted; and 
 a carriage moving mechanism that guides the carriage in a direction perpendicular to the plurality of nozzle arrays, 
 wherein the wiping mechanism moves the wiper relative to and in contact with the nozzle surface, in a direction inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the plurality of nozzles arrays, the predetermined angle being smaller than an angle formed with respect to the plurality of nozzle arrays by a straight line drawn between a nozzle to be wiped first in the first nozzle array and a nozzle to be wiped last in the second nozzle array, and 
 wherein the wiping mechanism includes a guide mechanism that guides the wiper in a direction parallel with the plurality of nozzle arrays, the guide mechanism and the carriage moving mechanism being controlled such that the wiper moves in the inclined direction relative to the nozzle surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The inkjet recording device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second nozzle arrays are separated by a distance of one pitch, and said device is configured such that when the wiper moves from the nozzle to be wiped first in the first nozzle array to the nozzle to be wiped last in the second nozzle array, the carriage moves in a direction perpendicular to the first and second nozzle arrays by a distance of not less than 0.5 pitch, and less than 1.0 pitch. 
     
     
       3. The inkjet recording device according to  claim 2 , wherein said device is configured such that when the wiper moves from the nozzle to be wiped first in the first nozzle array to the nozzle to be wiped last in the second nozzle array, the carriage moves in a direction perpendicular to the first and second nozzle arrays by a distance of not less than 0.8 pitch, and less than 1.0 pitch. 
     
     
       4. A method comprising:
 moving an ink et recording head to a predetermined position, the ink jet recording head including at least a first nozzle array and a second nozzle array on a nozzle surface; and 
 wiping the nozzle surface by moving at a non-zero angle relative to the first nozzle array a wiper, where the angle is less than an angle between the first nozzle array and a line formed between a first nozzle on the first nozzle array and a last nozzle on the second nozzle array, 
 wherein the first and second nozzle arrays are parallel to each other and separated by a distance of one pitch, and when the nozzle surface is wiped by moving the wiper at the non-zero angle relative to the first nozzle array from the first nozzle on the first nozzle array to the last nozzle on the second nozzle array, the wiper is moved, relative to the nozzle surface, in a direction perpendicular to the first and second nozzle arrays by a distance of not less than 0.5 pitch, and less than 1.0 pitch. 
 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the wiper extends along a line that is perpendicular to the direction of movement of the wiper. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 4 , where the wiper is perpendicular to the first nozzle array. 
     
     
       7. An inkjet recording device comprising:
 a recording head having a nozzle surface formed with a plurality of nozzle arrays and configured to eject ink droplets from the plurality of nozzle arrays, the plurality of nozzle arrays being arranged in parallel with each other and including a first nozzle arrays and a second nozzle array adjacent to the first nozzle array; and 
 a wiping mechanism having a wiper for wiping the nozzle surface; 
 wherein the wiping mechanism moves the wiper relative to and in contact with the nozzle surface, in a direction inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the plurality of nozzles arrays, the predetermined angle being smaller than an angle formed with resect to the plurality of nozzle arrays by a straight line drawn between a nozzle to be wiped first in the first nozzle array and a nozzle to be wiped last in the second nozzle array, and 
 wherein the first and second nozzle arrays are separated by a distance of one pitch, and said device is configured such that when the wiper moves from the nozzle to be wiped first in the first nozzle array to the nozzle to be wiped last in the second nozzle array, the wiper moves, relative to the nozzle surface, in a direction perpendicular to the first and second nozzle arrays by a distance of not less than 0.5 pitch, and less than 1.0 pitch. 
 
     
     
       8. The ink jet recording device according to  claim 7 , wherein the wiper is plate-shaped and is wide enough to extend across the plurality of nozzle arrays when the wiper is moved relative to and in contact with the nozzle surface. 
     
     
       9. The inkjet recording device according to  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of nozzle arrays are arranged on the nozzle surface at uniform intervals therebetween. 
     
     
       10. The inkjet recording device according to  claim 7 , wherein the wiper is perpendicular to the wiping direction. 
     
     
       11. The inkjet recording device according to  claim 7 , wherein the wiper is perpendicular to the nozzle arrays. 
     
     
       12. The inkjet recording device according to  claim 7 , wherein the wiping mechanism includes a guide mechanism that guides the wiper linearly in the inclined direction. 
     
     
       13. The inkjet recording device according to  claim 12 , wherein the guide mechanism includes a guide member extending parallel to the inclined direction and configured to guide the wiper in the inclined direction. 
     
     
       14. The inkjet recording device according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the recording head ejects a first ink from the first nozzle array and a second ink from the second nozzle array, the second ink being darker in color than the first ink, and the wiping mechanism moves the wiper such that the wiper starts wiping with the first nozzle array and ends wiping with the second nozzle array. 
 
     
     
       15. The inkjet recording device according to  claim 7 , wherein the wiper is oriented to be perpendicular to the inclined direction.